SMOKING WEAKENS ANTICLOTTING EFFECT OF ASPIRIN

Author: Anna D. Garrett, PharmD, BCPS, CPP

Smokers may be
12 times more resistant
to the effects
of aspirin. Researchers
recently published
the findings of
a study designed to determine which
factors predicted a poor response to
aspirin. One third of the 123 subjects
were smokers. Patients were evaluated
based on the dose of aspirin they were
taking. Eight of the 66 patients taking
low-dose (81 mg) aspirin were found to
be resistant to its effects. When the
dose was increased to 325 mg, only
one patient remained resistant. In the
group that took 325 mg, 3 were resistant.
Adding a dose of clopidogrel
resulted in a response in 2 of these 3
patients.

The authors concluded that smoking
may contribute to aspirin resistance.
This finding further reinforces the need
for smoking cessation.

Dr. Garrett is a clinical pharmacistpractitioner at Cornerstone Health Carein High Point, NC.